2024 Grade 11 Outtrip Selections:
SEPTEMBER 16, 17 & 18, 2024 (LOCAL DAY TRIPS)
SEPTEMBER 14-18, 2024 (OVERNIGHT AWAY TRIPS)
Listed below are the trip options for the Grade 11 outtrips, followed by a short online form where parents/guardians can indicate their child’s top four choices. Please do not select the same trip more than once. Trip options fall into two categories: Local Day Trips, and Overnight Away Trips. Some trips have prerequisites and a surcharge.
GRADE 11/12 OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP COURSE
Grade 11 students interested in taking the Grade 11/12 Outdoor Leadership (OL) course need to try out for the course during their grade 11 outtrip. Any of the away/overnight trips will work as a try out for the course. Students do not need to be expert campers to try out for or take the Outdoor Leadership course. They do need to be determined to develop their outdoor and communication skills and they should be positively engaged in all aspects of their try out.
Additional course information can be found on the OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP COURSE WEBPAGE
Grade 11 Trip Options:
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE (Local Day Trip)
This 3-day environmental service and sustainability camp is designed to introduce students to environmental service and food production practices through initiatives in local gardens and wilderness spaces. While working on projects in the school’s food gardens, local parks and outdoor spaces, students will increase their understanding and familiarity with organic food production, companion planting, tree pruning, harvesting, seed collection and gardening. It will also provide students with an opportunity to explore local, regional and global sustainability issues. Students may also have the opportunity to visit local environmental organizations, community gardens and sustainability centers.
LOCAL HIKING (Local Day Trip)
* Prerequisite: Students should be physically fit enough for a strenuous day hike with a loaded backpack
This local hiking trip is designed to introduce students to wilderness travel through the exploration of trails and parks on southern Vancouver Island. Hiking locations over the three days may include East Sooke Park, Mystic Beach/Juan de Fuca trail, Goldstream Park, Gowlland Tod…). Students will return home each night. While exploring these areas, students will develop a range of skills including the following: Navigation/orienteering, Packing/gear selection/equipment maintenance, Wilderness survival techniques, Risk management, First aid/Wilderness rescue.
PADDLEBOARDING (Local Day Trip)
* Prerequisite: Students must be able to swim at least 25 meters
This 3-day course is designed to introduce students to paddleboarding. During this introductory course the students and guides paddle in relatively protected waters while they develop their paddling and water rescue skills. Students will return home each night.
SMALL BOAT SAILING (Local Day Trip)
* Prerequisite: Students must be able to swim at least 25 meters
This 3-day course allows students to learn the basics of sailing in the relatively protected waters of the Cadboro Bay area with instructors from the Royal Victoria Yacht Club (RVYC). Students will have an opportunity to learn Sail Canada’s CANSail curriculum and make a progression through a number of skills. Students will return home each night.
ROCK CLIMBING ADVENTURE (Overnight Away Trip)
* Trip surcharge: $350
On the rock climbing trip, students will spend their days rock climbing outdoors with ACMG guides at the Skaha Bluffs rock climbing area in Penticton, BC. Students will have an opportunity to climb, belay, rappel, use zip-lines and tyrolean traverses, and participate in other climbing-related activities. The guides will set up and supervise climbing and other activities. After the climbing day, the group will return to the Banbury Green campground. They may also have the opportunity to swim in Skaha lake. If weather conditions restrict the options for climbing outdoors, the group may go to an indoor climbing gym or a local swimming pool. The following link should provide a better sense of what is involved in the rock climbing portion of the trip: www.skaharockclimbing.com
SEA KAYAKING EXPEDITION (Overnight Away Trip)
* Prerequisite: Students must be able to swim 25 meters
* Prerequisite: Students must have a current tetanus immunization (within 10 years)
This 5-day overnight sea kayaking and camping trip is designed to introduce students to sea kayaking while paddling on the ocean (Activity locations may include: Salt Spring Island, Southern Gulf Islands, or Ucluelet). During this course the students and sea kayak guides will paddle in relatively protected waters while they develop and refine their paddling, navigation and rescue skills. As an overnight camping trip, students will also develop their camp skills such as cooking over camp stoves, setting up tarps and tents.
SURFING (Overnight Away Trip)
* Prerequisite: Students must be able to swim 50 meters
* Trip surcharge: $350
On this 5-day overnight surfing and camping trip students progress through a graduated surf training regimen. They begin surfing in the “whitewash” close to shore and gradually progress to deeper water and larger waves as they develop their skills. Students wear a surf wetsuit and booties for this activity. Students may also have the opportunity to explore the beaches and visit the town of Tofino. As an overnight camping trip, students will also develop their camp skills such as cooking over camp stoves, setting up tarps and tents.
SUMMIT SCHOOL HIKING (Overnight Away Trip)
* Prerequisite: Students must have a current tetanus immunization (within 10 years)
This 5-day overnight hiking and camping trip is designed to introduce students to wilderness travel through the exploration of trails and parks on Vancouver Island. While exploring these areas, students will develop a range of backcountry skills such as the following: Navigation/orienteering, Packing/gear selection/equipment maintenance, Wilderness survival techniques, Risk management, First aid/Wilderness rescue. As an overnight camping trip, students will also develop their camp skills such as cooking over camp stoves, setting up tarps and tents.
WHITEWATER KAYAKING (Overnight Away Trip)
* Prerequisite: Students must be able to swim 100 meters.
* Trip surcharge: $350
During this whitewater kayaking and camping trip students will learn to paddle on a river in small whitewater kayaks. Day 1 is a local training day and students will return home for the night. On day 2 students will depart for a 4-day/3-night camping and kayaking trip. This activity takes place on a river with rapids containing waves up to 1 meter high with occasional rocks, boulders, sweepers or other obstructions like bridge piers. Students will learn the basics of river rescue and will swim portions of the river as they develop their skills. As an overnight camping trip, students will also develop their camp skills such as cooking over camp stoves, setting up tarps and tents.